Police Association ready to begin negotiations

According to a January 29 memo from Interim City Manager Elaine Hart to City Council, the Austin Police Association is ready to resume contract negotiations. To be precise, a January 26 letter from APA President Ken Casaday explains the union has selected its meet and confer team and “will be ready to return to the bargaining table whenever the City of Austin has selected its meet and confer team, and the City of Austin is in a position to make substantive proposals, both economic and non-economic.” In December, City Council unanimously voted against the police contract that was on the table and the city and Police Department are currently operating without a labor agreement, under the provisions of the Texas civil service statute. Casaday’s letter continues, “(APA) recognizes that the time needed to reach a new agreement is unknown at this time, however, we would hope that the Mayor and Council do not reduce the pay and benefits of its officers during the meet and confer process as has been the practice of the City when there was no agreement with fire fighters or EMS employees.”